Sport 19-09-2001 Beckham Grabs Last Gasp Winner As United Struggle In Europe who: David Beckham what: Beats Lille with 90th minute strike where: Old Trafford, MANCHESTER when: Last night snippet: "Manchester United`s reputation for late flourishes was seen again last night", writes Henry Winter in the Telegraph, "when David Beckham finally broke the French blockade with a goal 50 seconds from time at Old Trafford." Despite enjoying and huge amount of possession, "United had failed to shake off the blue blanket that Lille threw across their half for 89 minutes." Sir Alex Ferguson`s men failed to settle into their normal pattern of play and often looked out of sorts in a scrappy first half, notes BBC Online, which adds that United were forced to alter their game plan "when Gary Neville was stretchered off after a bad clash of heads and Mikael Silvestre was brought on to replace him." "It was not until first-half stoppage time that Veron and Van Nistelrooy combined with any effect," writes the Guardian`s Andrew Taylor, "a neat 1-2 dissecting the French defence, only for Wimbee to save at the Dutchman`s feet. Generally, though, with Beckham and Giggs struggling to exert any kind of influence, there was little width or penetration from the home side." With time running out, Beckham latched on to a cross from Van Nistelrooy to fire home from 15 yards and stop United`s European wagon from coming off the rails almost before it had started. "United can travel to Deportivo La Coruna next week in far better heart," concludes the Telegraph report, while the Guardian warns that "Ferguson clearly has much to ponder if his last season is not end in anticlimax." [... more]

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